Azernews.Az

Ulviyya Poladova

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The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that U.S. forces opened fire on the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova after the commercial vessel attempted to sail through the Gulf of Oman toward Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

CENTCOM announced the incident on its official X account, saying the vessel was attempting to breach the U.S. blockade imposed on Iran.

According to the command, a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the vessel’s engine compartment after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from U.S. forces.

The strike was intended to stop the vessel from continuing toward Iran. CENTCOM said the Vela Nova is no longer proceeding toward Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade, which it described as remaining fully in effect.

CENTCOM also provided figures on its enforcement operations. As of August 11, U.S. forces had redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to bypass the blockade, disabled three vessels that failed to comply with U.S. demands, and boarded and inspected two vessels.

The incident involving the Vela Nova highlights the growing risks facing commercial shipping in the region. The Gulf of Oman and surrounding waterways are critical routes for international trade, and military enforcement measures could have broader consequences for shipping companies, maritime insurance costs and regional trade.